The police in French Polynesia arrested a Dutch national and a German national on Monday after discovering 900 kilograms of cocaine and 180 kilograms of methamphetamine on their sailboat. It is the largest drug bust ever on the archipelago in the Pacific Ocean.
Authorities intercepted the yacht, which was sailing from Mexico to Australia, and found the large stash of drugs, reports TNTV News. The public prosecutor confirms to the French Polynesian medium that it is a record catch.
The ship has been brought to the port of Nuku Hiva. That is one of the 118 islands of French Polynesia, which lies between Australia and the American continents.
Officers spent a long time loading the large amount of drugs from the ship. It took until Tuesday at 8:00 AM for the yacht to be empty, the mayor of Nuku Hiva told Polynésie la 1ère.
The sea route between Mexico and Australia is a popular route for drug smuggling. For this reason, the authorities of French Polynesia often check passing yachts.
Large drug seizures also occur regularly on other islands in the Pacific Ocean. For example, at the end of June, the French navy intercepted 2,500 kilograms of cocaine on a cargo ship near New Caledonia, a French overseas territory closer to Australia. The navy arrested seven suspects. The ship had departed from Peru and was probably also en route to Australia.